Richard M. Fredrick

Richard M. Fredrick, 93, of Grand Island, formerly of the St. Libory/Worms area, died on Thursday, Sept, 22, 2022, surrounded by his loving family, at St. John's Good Samaritan Society in Kearney.
A Celebration of Richard's life will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at St. Libory Catholic Church, 505 Spruce St. Inurnment will be in the Warsaw Cemetery in St. Paul. Father Sid Bruggeman will be presiding.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the church in St. Libory. A rosary will follow at 7 p.m.
Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.
Richard was born in 1929 to Edward and Kathryn (Budzinski) Fredrick in Sherman County, Nebraska. This is the man known to have two birthdays, March 13 and May 13, which meant he celebrated twice! He grew up in Sherman County, attending District 22 and District 56 country schools.
He entered the U.S. Marines on Nov. 15, 1951, and was honorably discharged on Nov. 4, 1953, serving during the Korean War. Richard was united in marriage to Rosemary Ward on Aug. 30, 1954, in Concordia, Kan. Together, the couple raised three sons, Larry, Dan and Tim. The couple enjoyed polka music, camping and fishing by the river.
Richard loved the outdoors, and you could find him gardening, cutting wood, tinkering on vehicles, riding tractors to do his field and garden work, and three-wheeling. He took pride and joy of his two Oliver tractors. He enjoyed growing his vegetables on the farm, along with raising cows and pigs, and taking care of his fur-friends. He enjoyed playing scratch cards, as well as spending time at casinos with his family and buddies.
Richard was a member of the St. Libory Catholic Church, the Palmer American Legion Club and VFW.
He was employed at the sugar beet plant in Grand Island for many years. He drove a truck for Meyer's Farm Equipment, worked for Palmer Implement, and helped various farmers over the years. He spent a lot of time helping the Santins and the Kuceras, which he truly enjoyed. He also worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant for 13 years.
Those left to cherish his memory include his sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Sabrije Fredrick of Stutgart, Germany, Dan and Dana Fredrick of Grand Island, and Tim and Lori Fredrick of Palmer; grandchildren and their spouses, Alicia and Jeff Bachtel of Laramie, Wyo., Annabell and Jesse Fredrick of Grove Town, Ga., Richie Fredrick of Stutgart, Germany, Jessica and Tim Schleicher of Palmer, Travis and Ashley Fredrick of Grand Island, and Jocelyn and Dominick Helgoth of St. Libory; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Joyce Ward of St. Paul; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rosemary Annabell Fredrick; a brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Irene Fredrick; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Irene and Leonard Grabowski, and Alice Wilhelmi; and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Harold and Jane Ward.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.jacobsengreenway.com.